American Heritage on Heritage of Scotland

[RockyR]

Here's the deal...

Marton Mills was the only mill to offer to add our designs to their "Stock Range" of kilting tartans. We struck a deal with them for them to be able to sell the material to ANYONE, however there would be a royalty paid (to us) on each meter sold. It's the same kind of setup that the creator of the Isle of Skye tartan has or anyone with a "private tartan"...

Since the Gold Brothers are using MM fabric for their "SPECIAL OFFER! Men's Kilt, 100% Wool Best value 8 yard kilt in 241 tartans", they have included the American Heritage tartan (AND German Heritage tartan).

In THEORY, if anyone buys a kilt from them, I should get a royalty from MM.

The only thing I was a little miffed about is that they took the pictures for both tartans directly off of our website. If you're going to offer products online, the least you can do is take your own frickin' pictures. Stealing pics without permission is just cheesy.

Also... the prices are a bit low (they love to undercut everyone by having things made overseas) and they also offer PV tartans in that same model, but claim that it's wool (the Buccleuch tartan is in the dropdown). A bit shady at best.

Am I upset? Not really. I wish it was a more REPUTABLE company offering our tartans on their site, but it's good to see the tartans getting out there... the more people see / buy them, the more popular it becomes!

One thing I'd like to clarify however...

USAKilts has NOTHING to do with the Gold Brothers or their business practices. We buy fabric from the same mill and that is the ONLY thing we have in common.

[RockyR]

On the OTHER hand... if anyone sees any company offering American Heritage, German Heritage, German American or MOST importantly the Firefighter's Memorial tartan ANYWHERE in NON wool (PV / Acrylic / wool blends / cotton poly / etc), please let me know ASAP!

I would like to thank you guys for noticing this and bringing it to my attention so quickly. It's good to see I have a community of guys who've "got our back". I really means a lot. Again... thanks.

[Chef]

USAKilts has NOTHING to do with the Gold Brothers or their business practices. We buy fabric from the same mill and that is the ONLY thing we have in common.

While I would have understood you licensing to Gold Brothers (business is business, so to speak) I am somewhat glad to know that the deal is with the mill and that you didn't sell your soul to the devil.

[Nick the DSM]

we got your back, man!

it seems to you guys the gold bros are evil...

[RockyR]

While I would have understood you licensing to Gold Brothers (business is business, so to speak) I am somewhat glad to know that the deal is with the mill and that you didn't sell your soul to the devil.

Nope... Kelly and I are still here, souls intact.

we got your back, man!

it seems to you guys the gold bros are evil...

Thanks. I know I can count on you guys.

The Gold Brothers have MANY "questionable" practices which many see as ruining Highland culture. See the thread on "Designed in Scotland" and "Authentic Tartan" kilts... wordplay to get around the actual place of manufacture.

[starbkjrus]

we got your back, man!

it seems to you guys the gold bros are evil...

You got that right. Mind you shops selling tattie crap have a place in the market. I LOVE going to tattie crap shops when we visit some east coast USA beaches. I really do. However, I've seen their shops on the Royal Mile purporting to sell the "real" thing. I won't purchase from them. If they presented themselves as tattie crap shops then go for it.

Scotland has to have some tattie crap beach towns they could move to. Sort of like (No offense ) like Blackpool or Morcambe were twenty years ago. Can't they move there?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Here's the deal...

Marton Mills was the only mill to offer to add our designs to their "Stock Range" of kilting tartans. We struck a deal with them for them to be able to sell the material to ANYONE, however there would be a royalty paid (to us) on each meter sold. It's the same kind of setup that the creator of the Isle of Skye tartan has or anyone with a "private tartan"...

Uhhh.... I thought I saw the American Heritage tartan on the House of Edgar's latest tartan list that they sent us. Same deal, it was marked at a higher price because it they had to pay Royalty fees when it was sold. I assumed you worked out a deal with HoE, as well. Am I wrong?

[RockyR]

No... they have one called "the American National" or something... not an OFFICIAL "national" one, but they call it that.

If they DO have the American Heritage tartan, please let me know. I'd LOVE for them to carry it and give me royalties.